Vault-cover.



J. W. POTTS.

VAULT COVER.

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Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

J. W. POTTS.

VAULT COVER.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.25, 19111 1,020,845. Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. POTTS, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM T. KESSELS, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

VAULT-COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Application filed March 25, 1911. Serial No. 616,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WV. Form, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vault-Covers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vault covers and the object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient cover which is mounted in the sidewalk or other place where needed flush with the surface of the walk or ground, and which may be raised and held in raised position at different heights; and also which, when closed, will automatically lock itself.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel hinging arrangement between the door and supporting base which obviates projecting knuckles and which permits ready removal of the door when necessary.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a door of the character described which is provided with guiding wings movable with the door and adapted to prevent scattering of coal or other material being placed in the vault or cellar.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the cover or door removed. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the door removed. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of locking device. Fig. 6 is a perspective view looking at the bottom of a grate cover employing the locking means shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a base plate which is provided with a central opening 2 and surrounding the opening is an inwardly projecting right angular flange 3 to which is connected the depending casing 4, the upper edges of which are arranged slightly above the inwardly projecting portion of the right angular flange so as to form a channel 5 which is adapted to receive rain water or the like and prevent it from draining down into the cellar or vault. This channel is connected by means of a pipe 6 to any suitable point of discharge. The end members 7 of the casing 4 are extended rearwardly to a point adjacent the rear edge of the base plate and connected to these projecting ends are casing members 8 which are also connected to the rear side member of the casing 4, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The rear side of the casing 4 is provided with apertures 9 adjacent the end member 7 and passing through these apertures and secured to said end members are quadrant shaped bearing ribs 10.

The door or cover for the vault or cellar is indicated at 11 and is provided around its inner edges with a flange 12 adapted to seat in the channel 5 with the door resting bodily upon the portions of the casing 4 which project above the flange 3. This door has secured to its rear side the quadrant shaped bearing arms 14 secured upon the brackets 13 and adapted to move over the quadrant shaped ribs 10, the brackets 13 guiding the arms against lateral movement and holding the cover so that it will seat properly within the opening 2. Connected to these arms are a pair of segmental shaped wings 15 which are used when the door is opened for chuting coal into the cellar or vault.

Pivotally connected to lugs 16 secured to the underneath side of the cover or door is a rack arm 17 having its rack teeth adapted to engage a removable bolt 18 carried in lugs 19 secured to the inner portion of the front side of the casing 4. These rack teeth are adapted to support the door in elevated positions and the rack bar is provided with an offset end 20 which engages beneath the lower edge of the front side of the casing and prevents the cover or door from being thrown entirely over or the arms 14 from being removed from the bearing ribs. The upper end of the rack bar is provided with a tooth 21 which, when the door is closed, engages beneath the bolt 18 and locks the door from upward movement.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a grate frame 22 is shown having a plurality of bars 23 extending across from side to side parallel with the sides thereof and secured to the two bars, adjacent the end members, are curved arms 23 adapted to be engaged upon the tracks or ribs 10. The ribs are somewhat thicker than the frame and are reduced at their ends so as to be flush therewith, whereby the frame can lie flat upon the upper edge of the casing 4.- The three central ribs are reduced in thick ness and have secured to the reduced portion a bearing plate 24; from which project the lugs 25 between which are pivoted the locking dogs 26 and 27. The locking dog 27 is adapted to engage beneath the bolt 18, while the locking dog 26 is adapted to engage beneath the lug 28 formed on the inner side of the front portion of the casing 4 between the lugs 19. To unlock the grate, it is necessary to disengage the pawl 27 from the bolt and also to disengage the dog 26 from the lug 28.

The base plate and casing 4 are embedded flush with the surface of the ground or sidewalk and with the opening into the cellar or vault.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base plate having an opening therein, of a casing secured to the base plate and having an opening, quadrant ribs secured to the casing and passing through the opening in the casing, a door, and quadrant arms on the door adapted to rest on said ribs and work through said opening.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base plate having an opening therein, of quadrant shaped ribs secured to the base plate, a door fitting the opening in the base plate, quadrant shaped arms carried thereby and sliding over the ribs, means for preventing disengagement of the quadrant shaped arms when the door is closed, a cross pin carried by the base plate, and a combined locking and adjusting rack pivoted to the door for coacting with the pin to hold the door in adjusted position and to lock the same in closed position.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base plate, of quadrant shaped ribs secured thereto, a door, quadrant shaped arms secured to the door and adapted to operate over the ribs, a rack member pivoted to the door, means adapted to engage the rack member to hold the door in adjusted elevated position, a tooth on the rack member adapted to hold the door in locked position, and means on the rack member for preventing the door from being thrown entirely over.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES WV. POTTS. \Vitnesses:

IV. E. GoRToN, L. S. MILLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. l 

